Magazine floor plate release mechanism



Nov. 3, 1953 F. ROBERTSON, JR 2,657,489

MAGAZINE FLOOR PLATE RELEASE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3,1950 INVENTOR A ummm [wmafim'lz'rz 190521230445: m AQW- ATTORNEYS 1953F. ROBERTSON, JR. 2,657;489

MAGAZINE FLOOR PLATE RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 A minimu I INVENTOR lpamuiivm'alwmiwlefi "I: 5/ F 1\\\ IATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES MAGAZINE FLOOR PLATERELEASE MECHANISM Leonard Franklin Robertson, Jr., Silver Spring, Md.

Application April 3, 1950, Serial N 0. 153,735

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for effecting removal of themagazine floor plate of hand held firearms and more particularly to anaccessory type floor plate removing device which is adaptable tomilitary type rifles intended for sporting use.

There are many guns in use which are built on actions such as theSpringfield model 1903, Enfield model 1917 and Mauser model 1898.Removal of the loaded unfired cartridges from the magazine of suchrifles is accomplished by inserting a pointed tool in a hole in thefloor plate just forward of the trigger guard, and depressing the catchWhile at the same time exerting a pressure toward the trigger guard toslide the floor plate back to free the locking lugs which projectforward into slots provided in the magazine. This rearward motion of thefloor plate will allow it to be freed and removed from the gun.

The tool referred to above may be any pointed object with a diametersmaller than the hole provided in the floor plate. In military use thismay be a full jacketed long pointed bullet, but soft nosed huntingbullets are not suitable for this use. It therefore becomes necessaryfor the sportsman using such equipment to carry a special and separatetool to effect the release of the floor plate catch. Obviously such anextra piece of equipment is a nuisance and is very apt to be lost in thedays travels of a hunter. The hunter is, however, faced with huntinglaws which require him to unload his gun before placing it in hisautomobile. The general procedure as now followed by the average hunteris as follows: each unfired, loaded cartridge is worked into the firingchamber and out, being ejected in the same manner as a fired case. Thisis, to say the least, a dangerous and highly unsatisfactory procedure.Even if the cartridge is not accidentally fired in the above motion, itwill very likely be thrown out on the ground by the fast and positiveaction of the ejector. When recovered (if ever), the cartridge must thenbe wiped clean of all dirt and moisture before it can again be loadedinto the gun. These conditions as stated have revealed the need for animprovement in the operation of the magazine floor plate release ofmilitary type Weapons which include no built-in equipment for suchpurposes.

The object of this invention is to provide a positive acting,inexpensive device which will depress the floor plate catch and, at thesame time, exert a rearward pressure on the fioor plate proper causingremoval of the floor plate from the gun with a single easy motion.

The device of the present invention is easily permanently attached tothe gun and easily operated with cold fingers or glOVed hands, and iteliminates entirely the need for special tools or the alternativedangerous method of ejecting loaded unfired cartridges through thefiring chamber of the gun.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentupon consideration of the following detailed description of twoembodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the magazine andtrigger guard assembly of a Springfield military rifle showing thedevice of the present invention in operative position;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of the sub-assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the form of the magazine floorplate releasing device of the present invention which is used withSpringfield rifles;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the floor plate of aSpringfield military rifle showing a modified socket for the receptionof the release mechanism of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the magazine andtrigger guard assembly of a Mauser military type rifle showing thedevice of the present invention in operative position;

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section of the subassembly of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the form of the magazine floorplate releasing device of the present invention which is used withMauser rifles;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the floor plate of aMauser rifle showing a modified socket for the reception of the releasemechanism of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a view in section taken on the line Ill-40 of Figure 7.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, in greater detail, thenumeral It! represents the trigger guard and magazine subassembly of aSpringfield or Enfield type of rifle. The magazine of this subassembly,which bears reference numeral II, is part of an integral casting andincludes four walls which define a box-like cavity, the lower open endof which is closed by a floor plate l2. The floor plate I2 is providedat its ends with lips or flanges l3 and M which seat respectively ingrooves l5 and I6 of the subassembly l0. Upon reference to Figure 2 itwill be appreciated that, to remove the floor plate l2 from the magazineII, it is necessary to slide the same toward the left of the positionassumed in the figure. This is ordinarily prevented by a latch 11pivoted at I8 between side frames of the subassembly In which lie aboveand forward of the trigger guard. The latch is provided at one end witha generally triangular projecting portion l9 having wings [9a and Nb oneither side thereof and at the other end with a small socket receivingone endof a coil sprin 20 that urges the triangular projection l9 andthe wings [9a and 19b downwardly as it is viewed in Figure 2.

It will be observed upon reference to Figure 4 that the lip 14 is a partof a boss 21 integral with the floor plate l2 and projecting upwardlyfrom its inner surface. slot 22, the bottom of which is defined by asurface parallel to and in the same plane as the upper surface of thefloor plate. The forward edge of the slot 22 is defined by a straight orvertical surface 23a and a beveled surface at 23 complementary to theforward face of the triangular projection l9 and "a shoulder at 24complementary to and coacting with the wings led and 912.

It can now be seen that since the spring biases the projection l9 intothe slot 22, the wings [9a and 1 91) will be pressed against the uppersurface of the boss 2| rearwardly of the shoulders 21 so that theshoulders cannot be moved rearwardly of the gun as a whole. This beingthe case, and bearing in mind the integral nature of the boss 21, thelip I4 and the floor plate 12, it is apparent that so long as the spring20 holds the wings 19a and I9!) in position behind the shoulders 24, thefloor plate cannot be released.

The gun as manufactured is provided with a floor plate aperture at 25 sothat the sharp nose of a military bullet can be inserted therein and,through the slot 22, can act on the tip of the projection l9 so as toraise the wings [to and i912 above the shoulders 24 to permit the floorplate to be moved rearwardly enough to disengage the lips l3 and M fromthe grooves 15 and [6.

In the original condition of the floor plate assembly the shape of theslot 22 in the boss 2| is not critical so long as it allows space forthe seating of the projection l9 above the aperture '25. For reasonswhich will be hereinafter apparent, the slot in the boss of theconventional Springfield floor plate has been modified as a part of thisinvention to the configuration illustrated in Figure 4.

The present invention is a release lever attachment to be used with theabove-described mechanism to facilitate removal of the ,floor plate andthereby assist in removal of unfired 'cartridges from the magazine. Toaccomplish the desired results there is provided the attachment shown inFigures 2 and 3. 'This attachment, in use, rests in the slot 22 of theboss 2l and 'func tions to raise the triangular projection I9 of thelatch to release position. It is comprised of a piece of heavy sheetmetal provided withan operating knob 26, a neck 21, a portion 28extending forwardly of the neck and a portion-29 extending rearwardly ofthe neck. The portions 28 and 29 seat in the groove 22 and reston .theuppersurface ofthe fioorplate 12 at the bottom of the groove 22. .Anotch wat =3D,in the upper surface "of the release lever.jgcomplementary to the projection l9 and receives the same.

The boss 2| has an inner From the foregoing description it can be seenthat when the operating knob 26 is squeezed toward the trigger guard ormoved to the left of its Figure 2 position, the under surface of theportion 28 acts as a fulcrum and the portion 29 acts as a cammingportion against the under side of the triangular projection l9 andraises the latch I! as a whole to a position such that the wings l9a andH319 are higher than the shoulders 24 on the boss 2| so that the bosscan be moved to the left of its Figure 2 position. Of course, the bossis permanently attached to the floor plate 12 and the described movementis effected by moving the whole floor plate assembly including the bossto the release position. When the floor plate is removed the releasemechanism including the projection I9 stays in the slot 22 and is apermanent loosely held part of the floor plate, the handle 26 and theparts 2;, 29 being of greater diameter than aperture 2 The arrangementwhich has been developed in respect to the Mauser type rifle is shown inFigures 6 to 10, inclusive, and it corresponds generally to theSpringfield-Enfield type which has just been-described.

In Figures 6 and 7 there is shown a sub-assembly comprising a magazine3|, a trigger guard 32 and a floor plate 33. The magazine and triggerguard are integral and between them there is provided a housing 34 whichis provided with a cylindrical interior space at 35 which receives aplunger '35. The plunger 36 is provided with a guiding pin 31 whichprojects through an aperture in the top of the housing 34 and betweenthe top of the housing and the top of the plunger there extends a coilspring 38 which continuously biases the plunger downwardly. The floorplate 33 is provided at one end with a flange 39 which coacts with acomplementary groove :30 in the main casting constituting the triggerguardmagazine sub-assembly. Another groove 4| is provided at the lefthand and of the magazine sub-assembly as it is viewed in Figure '7 andthat groove cooperates with a flange or lip 42 on a boss 43 which isintegral with and projects upwardly from the inner surface of the floorplate 33. The boss is provided with a hollow interior at '44 which isaccessiblefrom the outside of the gun through an aperture .at 45. In thenormal military use of the rifle ,the floor plate is locked in positionby seating of the plunger 36 in the socket at M and release of the floorplate is effected by inserting the pointed nose of military ammunitionthrough the'hole at 45 to push the plunger '36 upwardly against the biasof spring 38 .so that the boss 13 is free to move and hence the floorplate 33 .may be moved to the left of its Figur 6 p sit on to di en aflan 39 and $2 from the respective grooves 5.0 and 4]. In other words,the floor ,plate is normally ,held by the projection of the plunger .35into the hollow'interior .44 of the boss 43. Under these conditionsit isapparent that the boss 43 needbe provided vonly with a central generallycylindrical aperture ,aifording. access tothe lower .end of the plunger35. According .to the present invention the boss 43 is .modifiedbyprovision of two diametrically opposejd slots on the long axis of thefloor plate extending through the boss from the hollowwinterior 44 tothe outside.

1f .thetrifle is used .with sporting ammunition the blunt ,nosepfbullets will not pass through the aperture at 45 anditisnecGSsary tohave-a sharp tool available to release the floor plate.

To obviate this difliculty this invention provides an operating leverwhich is freely mounted in the slots in the boss 43 and projects throughthe aperture at 45 and is carried by the floor plate at all times sothat it is only necessary to squeeze the lever to displace the plunger36 and release the floor plate. The release mechanism which constitutesan important part of this invention is shown in Figure 8. It comprisesan operating handle 46, a shank portion 41, a fulcrum portion 48 and anacting lever or camming portion 49. The under side of the fulcrumportion 48 and the acting portion 49 rest on the upper surface of thefloor plate 33 so that the device is supported by the floor plate withinthe boss 43. When it is desired to release the floor plate latch theoperating handle 4'5 is squeezed to the left of its Figure 7 position,i. e., toward the trigger guard and the lever part 49 then lifts the pin36 out of the socket at 44 so that the plate may be removed.

From all of the foregoing it can be seen that this invention entails butsmall modification of existing equipment to bring about a, substantialadvantage. According to the illustrated applications of the invention itis only necessary to cut out a groove in the floor plate boss whichholds and acts as a camming surface for the floor plate release lever ofthe present invention.

While this invention has been described with respect to but twoembodiments thereof, it is understood that it broadly comprises a pinsupported for freedom of movement in the floor plate, the pin havinglever portions so that it can bias the latch which holds the floor plateto release positions so that the floor plate may be removed.

What is claimed is:

1. A magazine floor plate assembly comprising a frame, a magazine fixedrelative to the frame and having front and rear walls, the rear face ofthe front wall and the rear face of the rear wall each having a groovetherein, a removable floor plate having an internal lip normally seatedin the groove in the front wall of the magazine, a boss on said floorplate having a lip thereon normally seated in the groove in the rearwall of said magazine, a, spring urged latch carried by the frame andbiased to act upon a portion of said boss to restrain the same againstmovement, a lever including a portion lying within the boss andcontacting the latch and a handle portion depending below the floorplate, said lever being fulcrumed in said floor plate and movable toovercome the bias on said latch to render said floor plate removable.

2. A magazine floor plate assembly comprising a frame, a magazine fixedrelative to the frame and having front and rear walls, the rear face ofthe rear wall having a groove therein, a removable fioor plate, a, bosson said floor plate having a lip thereon normally seated in the groovein the rear face of the rear wall of said magazine, means on the frontedge of the floor plate and on the front wall of said magazine coactingto hold the floor plate against movement when the lip on the boss isengaged in the groove on the rear face of the rear wall of the magazine,a spring urged latch carried by the frame and biased to act upon aportion of said boss to restrain the same against movement, a leverincluding a portion lying within the boss and contacting the latch and ahandle portion depending below the floor plate, said lever beingfulcrumed in said floor plate and movable to overcome the bias on saidlatch to render said floor plate removable.

LEONARD FRANKLIN ROBERTSON, J R.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 667,856 Wagner Feb. 12, 1901 1,056,057 Randall Mar. 18, 19131,132,044 Stamm Mar. 16, 1915 1,172,069 Stamm Feb. 15, 1916 1,410,354White Mar. 21, 1922 1,552,457 Swebilius Sept. 8, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 28,493 Great Britain 1911

